Hip hop’s biggest award show aired Tuesday evening, and it’s only right that it was on BET.
The 2018 BET Hip Hop Awards, which was taped in Miami for a second consecutive year, tapped comedian and actor, DeRay Davis, to host the annual show and featured epic performances from T.I., Gucci Mane, Yo Gotti, Cardi B, YG and Lil Pump.
But there were a few moments that stood out throughout the night. Here were a few of our favorites.
The Cyphers Had Us Transfixed
I mean come on, you know why we all really tune in for the BET Hip Hop Awards. And this year was no different.
Rappers such as Joe Budden, Eminem, Rapsody, Casanova, Reason, Flawless Real Talk, Phora and Shawn Smith, Vic Mensa, Taylor Bennett, G Herbo, and even Erykah Badu blessed the mic. It’s certainly one of our favorite reasons for tuning into the show year after year.
Lil Wayne Wins “I Am Hip Hop” Award
With a career that spans more than 20 years, 100 million records sold worldwide and five Grammy awards, Lil Wayne is one of the most successful and critically-lauded artists in hip hop. So it’s only right that BET finally gave Lil Wayne his just due, and honored him for his role in rap with BET’s I Am Hip Hop Award.
Wayne, in a somewhat emotional acceptance speech (which was presented by DJ Khaled), thanked one man in particular — and no, he was not a rapper. His name is Uncle Bob, a New Orleans legend that saved Wayne’s life after his wild near-death experience years ago.
In the heartfelt speech, he recalled, “He came into an apartment one day. He bust in the door, guns drawn—he saw nobody. He saw legs on the floor. It was my legs. He saw blood everywhere. Bunch of police hopped over me. He refused to do so. I never knew — I talked to him the other day — I never knew EMS was on the scene. He said EMS tried twice and they told him, ‘There’s nothing.’ He refused to let that die.”
Weezy added that Uncle Bob eventually drove Wayne to the hospital himself and ensured that he survived.
“Not only did he refuse to sit, not only [didn’t] he give me to the doctors and leave, he refused to leave, he stayed and made sure that I made it,” he said.
Cardi B Wows The Crowd
Though disappointing for those fans in attendance (myself included), Cardi B lit up the night with a special performance from LIV Nightclub at Fontainebleau.
She started the performance with her hit song “Get Up 10” (but which one isn’t a hit?), and then we got a guest appearance from Pardison Fontaine (aka Pardi) for their smash hit “Backin’ It Up.”
Honestly, this is one of the best Cardi performances we’ve ever seen. All hail Queen Cardi.
XXXTentacion Receives Posthumous Best New Hip Hop Artist Award
It’s only right that because the show was hosted at the The Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, just minutes away from X’s hometown that he would be celebrated for his musical achievements after his death.
The rapper was shot and killed back in June at the age of 20.
His mother, Cleopatra Bernard, accepted the award on her son’s behalf. She was joined on stage by X’s manager Solomon Sounds and his lawyer Bob Celestin.
In an emotional tribute, they thanked the fans who have supported the controversial rapper even after his death.
